Bodacious’s consistency in three Islamorada sailfish tournaments over two months led them to victory in the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship Series, which concluded Jan. 26. Capt. Taylor Walsh led anglers Alan Wood, father Henry and son Shay Danzig, and Nick Stanczyk of Islamorada, to victory in the first and third legs of the series. The team released five sails during the Islamorada Fishing Club’s Sailfish Tournament Jan. 26 with Capt. David Morris and Mate Jeffery Leiderman, as well as at the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament Jan. 21-22. And while the Bodacious did not place in the top three in the Presidential tournament, it kept them in the overall hunt for the series win. At the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament in December 2011, Mate Chris “Toffer” Wightman grabbed the leaders on 22 sailfish to put the team ahead of the competition, and ultimately this was key. The team’s total of 32 releases in the three tourneys enables their names to be permanently engraved on the Gold Cup Trophy. The team also received crystal cups sponsored by the Tackle Center of Islamorada. The captain and mate trophies were sponsored by Valero gas stations and Dunkin Donuts.
Reel McCoy earned second place in the series again. Anglers Larry Amyotte of Silver Springs, Fla., Sean Smith from Pompano, Eric Overhardt of Key Largo, Justin Miller of Islamorada and Matt McLean from Naples, Fla. released 27 fish in all. Capt. George McElveen led the team to 10 releases in the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament, 13 sails and a win in the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament, and four in the Islamorada Fishing Club tournament. Trophies sponsored by Caribee Boat Sales were give to anglers, captain, and mate.
Olympic Gold placed third. Olympic Gold’s captain, J.C. Cleare, led the team to 12 sailfish releases in the first leg of the series. Anglers Max Tower and Reggie Rodriguez of Miami, along with Fulton Ivy of Palmetto Bay, and Doug Mientkiewicz from Islamorada had 21 releases by the end of the Cheeca Presidential Tournament. Its final five releases and a win at the Islamorada Fishing Club’s Sailfish Tournament Jan. 26 landed them with the Yamaha Outboards-sponsored third place trophies.
It was a close battle for the much sought-after championship ring which is awarded to the top overall angler, which was sponsored by Mercedes Benz of Cutler Bay. On the final day, two anglers had 13 total sailfish releases. Angler Nick Stanczyk on the Bodacious won on time over Larry Amoyette of the Reel McCoy. Last year’s champion angler, Doug Mientkiewicz of the Olympic Gold, released a total of 12 fish this year and proudly showed Stanczyk what his ring would look like.
In total, 258 sailfish were released by 74 anglers in this season’s event. The Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship Series is a fundraiser for the Islamorada Charter Boat Association. The series is to kick off next year with the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament Nov. 29. For more information on the series contact Dianne Harbaugh at (305) 852-2102 or visit us on the web www.islamoradasailfishtournament.com.
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